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Campaign of misinformation

Dr. Abhishek Singhvi said that it is quite astonishing the
amount of misinformation and distortion which has been going on since today
forenoon in regard to the court proceedings of Young India / National Herald. I
sometimes wonder if the Government does not have better things to do or focus
on governance in this country than to circulate unsigned notes of briefing to
all of you which are actually campaigns of misinformation and distortion.

We have one such note which is the government’s version of
what happened regarding the judicial challenge in the Income Tax matter of
Young India. It is a very sorry sad state to find the government agencies by
proxy through anonymity deliberately engaging in incomplete, partial,
distorted, slanted misinformation possibly bordering on Contempt of Court
because it is deliberately distorting court orders passed in our presence my
presence because I happen to be the Counsel arguing the matter. This shows the
unambiguous, clear insecurity and vindictive approach.

We are proud to be associated with the National Herald. We
are proud to be associated with the Newspaper which in the preindependence era
stood up for free speech when the Britishers were tightening and throttling
free speech very similar to present day climate. National Herald stood up for
certain ideals and we fully support with pride this initiative. I am now not
talking of today’s case but we have already dealt with it from this podium for
reminding you. Has anybody benefitted financially from this? Section 25, ‘Not for
Profit’ Company the Act prohibits paying out dividend, prohibits the giving of
pecuniary perks etc. Who has gained financially? It is a Section 25 Company. No
financial gain is possible. Has there been any asset transfer none. Can a
political party receive or give loans , provision says yes. Is it a real estate
company, is a somebody’s fertile imagination to think so. These are properties
owned by this Company for decades. And who can benefit, it will remain property
of ‘Not for Profit Section 25 Company’.

Yes, we understand that the ruling party wants to indulge in
this campaign of misinformation only because either they want to supply information
to their proxies who are fighting us in Court or they do not want to go by the
facts because they are scared of the fact. Friday, 12th May, 2017